Norwalk 2.0 is proud to host Norwalk native Duvian Montoya talk about his newest work An Immigrant Story, Wednesday July 31 at 5:30 pm.
An Immigrant Story, is an artwork commissioned by Norwalk 2.0 as part of FACES of NORWALK, a creative placemaking program designed to ignite activity in downtown Norwalk.
Taking inspiration from WPA era murals hung at City Hall and the Library, Duvian created a special story of his parents immigration to Norwalk from Colombia.
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“This story about my parents is my story. It has affected me throughout my life and in the way I think. They came here to give themselves and their kids a better and safer life. A life that would have been a lot harder in country that was going through civil wars, 30% unemployment and a drug war that would come later in life. It wasn't easy leaving their native land and their loving family but it was something that was necessary for them and for their family. They came here in the 1964 with mom being 18 and my dad 23.” said Montoya.
“This piece took some time to develop but after finding an old image of my mom leaving Colombia and leaving my grandmothers embrace, I found my beginning. From there I was able to develop the simple story of them landing here as represented in the Macaw and working their butts off to give us the American dream. A dream that is represented by the back yard and the grandchildren that they get to play with. America is still an economic powerhouse and for that reason immigrants will flock here for that chance of a better life, a chance that their native land almost never allows,” said Montoya.
After Duvian Montoya’s artist talk, take a walk up Wall Street to the historic townhouse at Mill Hill, where a reception will be held for the artist talk and the closing of Secret Norwalk, a juried art show. The Norwalk Historical Society has hosted the exhibit since June featuring creative interpretations of the varied somewhat hidden locations in Norwalk. Over 60 artworks are represented in the show, and this will represent the last opportunity to celebrate this collection of local artworks on Norwalk.
“We are continuing to engage our community with contemporary exhibits that speak to the cultural heritage of Norwalk,” said Suzanne Betts, President of the Norwalk Historical Society.
Norwalk 2.0, a community and economic development organization dedicated to bringing people back to heart of Norwalk’s downtown. Linking the past with the future, the FACES of Norwalk received funding support from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency (DECD Office of the Arts) as part of the Arts Catalyze Placemaking (ACP-3) Arts Leadership Implementation grant program.
Norwalk 2.0’s mission is to engage residents, businesses and community organizations to work together and create an authentic, creative, economically diverse and sustainable future.
Artist Talk: 7/31/2013 5:30 pm 68 Wall Street POP City
Reception: 7/31/2013 7:00 pm 2 East Wall Street. Townhouse at Mill Hill Historic Park
